Road-building machinery



Nov. 8, 1927.

c.l D. FARMER ET Al.

ROAD -BULDING MACHINEI'UI voriginell vFiled 'Auz. 26. 1920 I lA 3 Sheets-Shea?I 1 ln/vented:

Carne//UJ 75K/fifi? Nov. 8, 192 7.

C. D.`FARMER ET AL ROAD BUILDING MACHINERY Original Filed Aug. 26. 1920 3 Shee'tS-Sheet 2 Nov. 8, 1927.

' Re, 16,782 c. D. FARMER Er Al.

ROAD BUILDING MACHINERY Original Filed Aug. 26. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lum-MHT (offiz/i052 fdr/IMC Reissued Nov. s, 1927.

UNITED STATES Re.16,7sz

PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS D. FARMER AND HOLLIS W. LIBBY, OF EUGENE, OREGON, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO C. EMIL FORCE AND ONE-HALF TO E. J. A('JURRIGAN, BOTH 0F PORT- LAND, OREGON.

ROAD-BUILDING MACHINERY.

Original No. 1,439,879, dated December 26, 1922, Serial No. 406,071, led vAugust 26, 1920. Application for reissue led December 26, 1924. Serial No. 758,273. 4

The present invention relates in general to road building methods and machinery, and more particularly to an improved machine especially adapted to carry out resurfacing operations. y The object of our invention is to provide a machine by which the roadway may be provided withA a new surface completely'covering the old roadway and filling all ruts, breaks and bad places so as to present a smooth and even surface well adapted to bear the strains incident to trailic, and in which the resurfacing of the roadway is carried out expeditiously and with a minimum of handling of the resurfacingl material and a minimum expenditure of labor.

Another and principal object of our invention is to provide a machine of the charact-er described with a vertically disposed scraper plate. or blade-like member or sur.- face arranged transversely between the sides of the machine. and adapted to bear on and scrape the surface of the road over which the machine is moved; and to provide such blade with means for heating it, so as to keep in a liquid state the surfacingT material piling up in front of the blade as the machine is moved forward.

Furthermore we preferably arrange said blade atI an oblique angle in a horizontal plane with the sides of the machine that in the forward travel of the machine one end of the blade will move relatively in advance of the other and thus to neutralize any tendency of the liquid surfacingr material from piling up in front of the blade. but instead causing the blade to move said material sidewise across the road and thus spread the material laterally over the road Surface. In this way l thc forward movement of the machine causes the surfacing;r material to be evenlv distributed over the road surface and to fill in the ruts and hollows thereof imt-il a smooth surface is secured. f

Furthermore we tilt thesaid blade towards the rear of the machine, thereby to cause the blade to tend to lift and hold up the surfacing material. thus facilitating its spreading over the road surface and neutralizing any tendency of the blade climbing over said material.' i

A still further object of our invention is to make the said blade'adjustahle so as to be able to vary the pressure thereof on the road surface or -the surfacing Amaterial as desired.

Other objects and advantages reside in the certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination ofvparts of the apparatus and of the-nature, relation and Sequence vof the steps of the method which will b c hereinafter more fully described and partlcularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which i Figure 1 is a side eleva-tional view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a. transverse sectional view on the line 3-3- of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the sled apart from the wheeled vehicle, parts being broken away for the sake of illustration.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the apparatus embodying the invention includes a wheeled vehicle having a suitable frame 10, front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12. The vehicle is adapted to be drawn over the road to be resurfaced in any suitable manner and by any suitable means.

A sled is arranged beneath the vehicle and consists of side bars 13, and bars 14 and suitable cross braces 15 extending between the side bars, The side bars 13 are of composite construction, having front and rear wooden members 13a and intermediate steelmembers 13". The front ends of the side bars 13 are curved upwardly as at 13 in Figure 1to facilitate the travel of the sled over obstruction and irregularities in the roadway. On the under side or road engaging surface each of the wooden members`13ais provided withv `metallic shoes 13d.

The sled is adapted to be drawn by the. vehicle when in use, 'and when not in use it may be suspended from the vehicle out of engagement with the roadway. The means for suspending the sled from the vehicle and drawing the same therefrom consists of a pair of windlasses 16 carried at the forward end of the vehicle and a pair of windlasses 17 carried at the rear end of the vehicle. Each windlass of each pair is identical in construction and as shown in Figure 3 includes the frame or bracket 18 secured to the side members of theframe 10 of the'vehicle, and a winding drum 19 which has its axle 19a journaled in the bracket 18, and upon the winding drum a cable 20. is secured and is adapted to be coiled. The free end of the cable 20 is secured, as at 21, to the adjacent side member 13 of the sled. Pawl and ratchet mechanism 22 co-operates with the axle 19|51 of the winding drum, and the bracket 18, to normally prevent unwinding of the cable'from the windlass. The outer end of the axle 19a is squared, as indicated at 19", to receive a suitable operating member, such as the crank handle 23 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. It is obvious that as the cables 2() are Wound upon the windin drums the sled is at first drawn closer to t ie vehicle and finally is lifted olf the ground to' be sus ended entirely .from and carried entirely by the vehicle. h

An asphalt tank or kettle 25 1s carried at the front or forward end of the vehicle body, resting upon the forward portion of the vehicle frame 10. The tank 25 is adapted to contain heated asphalt or the like, and for this purpose is provided at its top with a swinging door 25L to provide for the dumping or delivery of the asphalt to the tank.

Heatin means for the asphalt tank is provided an is carried upon the vehicle. This heating means may be of any standard construction, and preferably includes a irebox 26 and a flue 26a.

A distributor 27 is associated with the asphalt tank and includes (see Figure 3) a' de ivery or outlet pipe 27n having swiveled at its lower end, as at 27h, a transversely extending erforated distributor pipe 27. The heated) asphalt thus flows through the delivery pipe 27n into the distributor pipe and is discharged in` a plurality of jets rom the distributor pipe across and upon the surface of the road. Controlling means for regulating the flow of the asphalt through the distributor is provided and consists of a valve 27r1 arranged in the delivery pipe 27Il and operated by a handle lever or the like 27. The free end of the distributor pipe 27c is pivotally connected, as at 27f, to the arm 27 of an operating levcr 27" which is rotatably mounted, as at 27', upon the top of the asphalt tank and which is adapted to raise or lower the free end of the distributor pipe so as to vary its inclination with respect to the road and thus vary the feed of t e asphalt to various parts of the road.

A hopper 28 for heated rock, crushed stone, gravel or the like is carried by the frame of the vehicle to the rear of the asphalt tank. The hopper 28 is provided with an inclined bottom 28a, which leads to a laterally extendinv discharge opening'28" having an adjustabile valve or gate28c controlled by operating means 28d. The heated rock, gravel, crushed stone or the like is thus spread across the surface of the road when discharged from the opening 28. ,Suitable means (not shown) is provided for heating the rock hopper and may be of any standard or conventional construction. It is thus seen that as the asphalt is applied to/the surface of the road, or immediately after, the heated rock is applied to the asphalt coated road and, due to the molten or plastic condition of the asphalt and to its own heat, the rock sinks into the asphalt.

Means are provided for subjecting the rock and asphalt on the road to the simultaneous action of heat and pressure. These means consist of a heat and pressure plate 29 exten-ding transversely between the side members 13 of the sled and having its ends bent at right angles, as indicated at 29, and se cured by fastening means 2.9h to the steel members 13b of the sled. It is to be noted from Figures 1 and 4 especially the former that the upper edge of the said heat-andpressure plate, or blade, 29, is slightly tilted back, that is to the rear of the machine. The advantage of such construction is as mentioned, it adapts the blade to lift and hold up the surfacing' material and in so doing facilitates the spreading of the material over the road surface; also tends to neutralize any ltendency of the blade climbing over the material. The fastening members 29b preferably operate in elongated slots 29c so that the heat and pressure plate 29 is adjustable. The purpose of this construction is to permit the adjustment of the blade so as to vary the pressure with which its scraping or lower edge bears on the road surface and the material applied on the latter; it also permits the adjustment of the blade in such a way as to tilt slightly at an end and thus to bear more on one side of the road than the other, if desired in order to iill in the ruts of, or smooth over, the road surface. The plate 29 is heated by any suitable means, which preferably includes a combustion chamber 30 having grate bars 30a. The heating means is also carried by the .steel members 13" of the `sled. The heat and pressure plate 29 exerts a smoothing and scraping action upon the road to regulate the thickness ot' the surfacing material and to compact the proper thickness of material while subjecting this material to the action of the heat to the end of more intimately associating the ingredients thereof. For this purpose the plate 29 is maintained more ighly heated asphalt.

A sand hopper 31 is carried by the rear of the frame 10 of the vehicle, preferably immediately' behind the rock` hopper 28. The sand hopper 31 is also provided with an inclined bottom 31" and a laterally and horizontally extending discharge opening 3,1"` at the forward and lower end of the hopper. A control valve or gate 31c is mounted for sliding movement across the discharge opening and is provided with a suitable operating or lul) controlling vmeans 31b by which it may be adjusted to vary the discharge from the sand hopper. The sand from the ho per is thus spread upon the roadway imme iately after the asphalt and rock have been applied and treated by the heat and pressure plate 29. A scraper and pressure plate 32 -is adjustably secured, as at 32, to the the scraper and pressure plate 32 is preferably somewhat higher than the adjustment of the heat and pressure plate 29 in order to allow a coating of sand to remain upon the roadway on top of the asphalt and rock. It is to be understood-that the scraper and pressure plate 32 spreads and compacts the sand upon the road and regulates its thickness.

At the rear of the apparatus a roller 33 is provided, and preferably consists of three sections 33a and 33b and 33C, respectively, mounted upon a common shaft 33d. vThe ends of the shaft 33d are connected by drag bars 33c to the sled. The ends are also ccnnected to the cables 33' which are wound upon winding drums 33g carried by brackets 33h secured to the frame 10 ofthe vehicle.4

These winding d rums are identical in construction with the winding drums 19 shown in Figure 3 and have the same character of pawl and ratchetmechanism 33l and operating mechanism 33k associated therewith.

In operation, when it is desired to use the invention for resurfacing a roadway, the sled is lowered into contact for engagement with the ground and the heat and pressure vplate 29 and the scraper and pressure plate 33 are adjusted corresponding to the thickness of the surfacing which it is desired to apply. The machine is then drawn over the roadway by any suitable means. The ilow of the heated asphalt through the distributor 27 is regulated by the operator in accordance with the conditions as the control mechanism of the distributor is flexible and highly responsive. The asphalt is evenly spread over the, old surface of the roadway and com letely covering the same and filling all ruts, reaks and bad places. The heated rock then forms uniformly on the applied asphalt and due to the molten condition of the asphalt and to its own heat this rock sinks into and is intimately associated with the asphalt on the roadway so that it is mixed therewith on the roadway. This mixture of the rock and asphalt is further enhanced by the action of the heat and pressure plate 29. By the action of the heat and pressure to which the rock and asphalt are subjected the rock is firmly embedded in the asphalt and is evenly distributed therethrough, and the entire mass is compacted and the surface thereofV is smooth and rendered uniform throughout.

Immediately subsequent to this, a coating of sand is spread over the asphalt while it is still in its heated condition and this coating l side members 13 of the frame of the sled. The adjustmentof of sand is then subjected to the action of the scraper and pressure plate 32, which presses the sand into binding contact with the asphalt and which makes the sand coatin of uniform thickness over the entire sur ace. The complete resurfacing is then subjected to the rolling action of the roller 33, .which finally compacts the complete mass.

It will be understood that the invention involves a. method of resurfacing which consists in the first instance of uniformly distributing highly heated asphalt on the old surface of the roadway, then uniformly distributing heated rock on the applied asphalt so that the heated rock and the heated as# phalt are mixed upon the roadway. The heated rock and asphalt are then simultaneously subjected to the action of heat and pressure, which causes the rock and asphalt to enter into more intimate mixture, which compacts the rock and asphalt and smooths the surfaces thereof, so 'that it is uniform and continuous throughout.

lVhile still in the heated condition sand is uniformly' distributed on the rock and asphalt and the sand is then subjected to the action of a scraping and smoothing pressure, which provides for even and uniform coating of sand and an intimate association of the sand with the asphalt so that the sand and I asphalt enter into combined. engagement.

The entire mass is then subjected to a rolling action.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a wheeled vehicle, a sled arranged beneath and drawn by the vehicle, an asphalt tank carried at the forward end of the vehicle, means for heating the asphalt tank, a distributor vfor spreading the asphalt on the roadway, a heated hopper for containing rock arranged on the vehicle behind the asphalt tank and having a discharge opening for feeding the heated rock to the asphalt coated roadway, means for subjecting the rock and asphalt on the roadway, means for subjecting the rock and asphalt on the roadway to heat and pressure including a scraper and pressure plate carried by the sled and heating means for saidvplate, a sand hopper carried at the rear end of the vehicle and having a discharge opening for feeding the sand to the surfacing of asphalt and rock, a scraper and pressure plate for the sand carried by the sled, and a Vroller carried by the rear end of the sled.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a wheeled vehicle, ka sled arranged beneath and drawn by the vehicle, an asphalt tank carried at the forward end of the vehicle, means for heating the asphalt tank, a distributor for spreading the asphalt on the roadway, a heated hopper for containing rock arranged on the vehicle behind the asphalt tank and having a discharge openlili llO

, ing for feeding the heated rock to the asphalt coated roadway, means for subjecting the rock and asphalt on the roadway to heat and pressure including a scraper and pressure plate carried by the sled and. heating means for said plate, and a sand hopper carried at the rear end of the Vehicle and hav-V ing a discharge opening for feeding the sand to the surfacing of asphalt and rock, and a scraper' and pressure' plate for the sand carried by the sled.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a wheeled vehicle, a sled arranged beneath and drawn by the vehicle, an asphalt tank carried at the forward end of the\vehi ele, means for heating the asphalt tank, a distributor for spreading the asphalt on the roadway, a heated hopper for containing rock arranged on the vehicle behind the asphalt tank'and having 'a discharge opening for feeding the heated rock to the asphalt coated roadway, means for subjecting the rock and asphalt on the roadway to heat and pressure, including a scraper and pressure plate carried by the sled, and heating means for said plate.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a Wheeled vehicle, means carried by the vehicle for containing and' feeding Asurfacing material, a sled arranged beneath and drawn by the vehicle, and means carried by the sled for subjecting the material upon the surface of the road to the action of heat and pressure.

5. In an apparatus of the character described,- a tank for containing heated as` phalt, a distributor for spreading the heated asphalt from said tank upon the roadway, a hopper for heated rock having a discharge opening adapted to feed the heated rock to the asphalt coated roadway, and means for subjecting the rock and asphalt to the action of heat and pressure.

G. In an apparatus of the character described, a wheeled vehicle, means carried by the vehicle for containing and feeding surfacing material, a sled arranged beneath and drawn by the vehicle, means for suspending the sled from the vehicle, including a pawl and ratchet controlled winding drum, and a cable coiled upon the drum and connected to the sled, and means for subjecting the by the sled for subjecting the material upon the surface of the road to the action of heat and pressure, including an l'adjustable plate.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a Wheeled vehicle, means carried by the vehicle for containing and feeding the surfacing material, a sled arranged beneath and drawn by the vehicle and including a frame having side members consisting of front and rear wooden sections and intermediate steel sections, and means for subjecting the material upon the surface of the road to the action of heat and pressure, including a pressure plate adjustably mounted u on the steel sections of the side members of the sled, and heating means for said plate carried by said steel sections.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing heated asphalt, a distributor for spreading the heated asphalt from said tank upon the roadway, a hopper for heated rook having a discharge opening adapted to feed the heated rock .to the asphalt coated roadway, means coop erating with the discharge opening of said rock hopper for varying the feed of the heated rock, a sand hopper for feeding sand to the surface of the. asphalt and rock upon the roadway, and 'means for `varying the feed-of said sand.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a wheeled vehicle, means carried by the vehicle for containing and feeding surface material, a supplementary carrier-element carried beneath the vehicle, and a scraper-bar carried by said supplementary carrier-element, said scraper-bar being vertically adjustable, and being provided With means carried by the scraper-blade for holding combustible material, whereby to heat the latter.

CORNELIUS D. FARMER. HOLLIS W. LIBBY. 

